Ski binding



w. M. PIERCE, JR 2,614,858

SKI BINDING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Oct. 21, 1952 Filed April 17, 1948 Oct. 2l,1952 w. M. PIERCE, .1R

SKI BINDING 2 SHEETSJSHEET 2 F'iled April 17, 1948 INVENTOR. MYNE MPIEREE, JR.

' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1952 SKI BINDING Wayne M. Pierce, Jr.,Milford, Conn., assignor to Tey Manufacturing Corporation,

Milford,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 17, 1948, SerialNo. 21,677

(Cl. 28o-11.35)

T 16 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in skis or similaroutdoor sporting foot wear equipment and has particular relation to skibindings.

An object of the invention is to provide a ski binding comprising a shoeor boot `heel clamp and a shoe or boot toe clamp assembled into a uniton a mounting piece constructed for convenient mounting on a ski.

Another object is to provide a ski binding including a shoe or boot heelclamp, a shoe or boot toe clamp, an elongated base on which said clampsare mounted for adjustment toward and from one another whereby theclamps may be positioned relatively for the reception of `a shoe or bootof given size, and means for individuallysecuring said clamps in theiradjusted positions on said base.

A further object is to provide a ski binding including a unit comprisinga base and toe and heel clamps on said base, and means for the mountingof said base on a ski and which means includes adjustable means wherebythe said unit may be secured in position on a ski and thereafter quicklyand with little difculty adjusted longitudinally oi the ski and securedin its new position.

` An additional object is to provide a ski binding comprising a fixedheel clamp, a toe clamp including a portion to engage the toe of a skiboot, and resilient means urging said toe clamp toward said heel clampto retain a boot heel in the latter and yet `permit of yielding of saidtoe clamp in a manner to have the binding release a boot by lateralmovement of the toe of said boot out of the clamp on a strain or twistbeing imposed suchI as might result in injury to the user or to the ski.

A further Objectis to provide a ski binding including aliixed heelclamp,.a toe clamp slidable toward said `heel clamp to secure a ski bootin said binding, lever means for moving said toe clamp toward said heelclamp to secure a ski boot in said binding and from said heel clamp torelease a ski boot from said binding, said lever means including meansmovable through a dead center as it is swung to move said toe clampr toand from released position whereby yto lock it in such position.

An additional object is to provide a ski binding as set forth in theimmediately preceding object and including spring means through whichsaid lever moves said toe clamp whereby to yieldingly force the sameinto clamping position against the toe of a boot when the binding is inuse.

Yet'another object is to provide a ski binding including a rigid heelclamp incapable of lateral` movement relative to a ski to which it isattached` whereby the binding serves to prevent any relative movementbetween a ski and a boot attached to the ski by said binding.

A further object is to provide a ski binding including a clampingstructure and means for imparting positive motion to said clampingstructure to shift it to released position wherebyon actuation ofsaidmeans said structure is with a positive motion shifted to a releasedposition to free a boot from a ski.

Another object is to provide a heel clamp for a ski binding 'and whichclamp includes 'a heel plate and a rigid bail pivoted through theforward ends of its arms to said heel plate and adapted to receive a skiboot heel resting on said plate, the pivotal connections between theends of said arms and said plate comprising threaded connections andsaid plate and bail of such relative size that the plate may be turnedon said threaded connections by passing the plate through the bail toadjust the arms of the bails and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing a ski equippe with my improved skibinding;

Fig.l2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken as alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. Il is an enlarged view taken as along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of my `improved ski binding with the toe clampclosed, the view being on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the bindingof Fig. 5jf

Fig. -7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken as along the line l-lof Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is an edge elevational view of the ski binding of Figs. 5 and 6but with the toe clamp open.

Referring in detail to the drawings, `my improved ski binding generallydesignated I0` is, in Figs. 1 4, illustrated as mounted on a ski genenally designated II. Ski Il is preferably made of light weight metal orother material having a high strength to weight ratio.

Ski II comprises a runner or lower skin I2 and a laminated top pan orshell I3. The runner` or lower skin I2 is of a single length of materialand preferably is of a thin resilient metal of high strength to weightratio. Intermediate its longitudinal edges the skin or runner I2 isformed or provided with a groove or channel Eil as is customary, andfurther, the said runner or skin is slightly bowed upwardlylongitudinally providing it With the desired camber.

The top pan or shell I3 is of the length and breadth of the runner orlower skin I2 and comprises a laminated transversely U-shaped or channelportion I8 extending for a Very substantial portion of the intermediatelength of the pan or shell. This portion I8 includes a top wall I9,diverging side walls 2i) and 2| and nat edge portions or lateralflanges22 and .23 disposed on the longitudinal edge portions of the lower skinI2. All of the described parts are secured together in the desiredmanner by the desired means.

Through the top wall i9 of the transversely U-shaped portion I of thetop pan or shell, three holes are provided in predetermined spacedrelation. The rearwardmost of these holes is designated 213 and theintermediate and forward holes are designated 25 and 26. Rivets or othermeans 21 secure a nut 23 against the inner side of the top pan inaligned relation with the hole 24. Similarly,rivets or the like 2Qsecure a nut against the inner side of the top pan in aligned relationwith. the hole 25. In any suitableor similar manner, a nut (not shown)is secured against the inner side of the top pan in alignment with or inregistry with the opening or hole 26. Thus, ski I I has three openingsthrough its top wall in predetermined spaced relation and in alignmentwith each such opening or in registry with each such opening is a fixednut located within the ski.

My improved binding as herein disclosed comprises a suitable base ormounting generally designated 3i and herein shown as comprising a singlerail or bar. Bar 3i comprises a desired length of stock of the properwidth and thickness and inherent characteristics as to rigidity and thelike. The longitudinal edges of the base or bar 3l are slightly undercutwhereby the bar is transversely a dove-tail shape. This is clearlyillustrated in Figs. 3 and fi.

At three spaced points, the bar SI is provided with slots or elongatedopenings 32, 33 and 34 each extending longitudinally of the bar andpreferable about 2 in length. The slots 32, 33 and 34 are spaced apartas are the holes or openings, 25 and 23 in the upper wall of the ski II.The construction is so predetermined that if the bar or piece 3I isdisposed on the ski and a bolt is passed through each of the slots 32,33 and 34 and threaded into the xed nuts registering with theholes oropenings 24, 25 and 2t but is not tightened, the bar may be shiftedapproximately 2" in the direction of its length and in the direction ofthe length of the ski.

On the bar or base 3i is a heel clamp generally designated 35 and a toeclamp generally designated 36. The heel clamp 35 comprises a heel plate31 disposed on the upper side of the base or bar 3i and provided towardits rear edge with a pair of lugs 33 and 3@ embracing the oppositeundercut edges of the base 3i. Somewhat similarly, toward its forwardedge, the plate 31 is thickened providing a pair of lugs 43 and 4I alsoembracing the opposite undercut edges of the base 3i. With thisconstruction, the plate 31 has a way through its underside and may beslid onto the base over one end of the latter with the lugs Sii-ilguiding movement of the plate along the base and together with the platepreventing movement of the plate transversely or up and down withrespect to the base.

Through diainetrically opposite side edges, toward its forward edge, theheel plate 31 is provided with sockets i2 and i3 opening through itsopposite edges and internally screw threaded in opposite directions.That is, one socket has left handed screw threads and the other righthanded screw threads. Associated with the plate 31 and comprising partof the heel clamp 35 is a bail lili. This bail is for the most partformed of round stock of the desired diameter and other characteristicsand the same includes a rear or closed bight portion d5 and side arms 46and 41, the 'extreme ends of which are turned into opposing relation andare externally threaded to form threaded studs i3 and iii).

'While the bail ifi is formed of transversely round stock it is relievedin its bight portion as at I5 and in the bends at the junctures of itsside arms and the studs 43 and |19, as at I6 and I1, respectively. Thisgives somewhat the eiect of a structure pivoted together at three pointsand provides for flexing of the bail, under adjustment, as will morefully appear.

The studs i3 and 9 are threaded into the sockets l2 and 33,respectively, and the bail 44 is of such size that the entire plate 31may pass through the bail when the plate is swung on an axis representedby the medial lines of the studs it and tii. That is, with the studsthreaded into the sockets and the clamp 35 removed from the base 3i, ifthe plate 31 is held stationary the bail lili may be swung around theplate or the bail may be held stationary and the plate rotated on thestuds. As either of these motions take place the studs will be threadedinto or out of the sockets i2 and 53.

In the former instance, the side arms 43 and l1 of the bail it will bedrawn toward one another lessening the width between such arms and inthe latter instance such arms will be forced outwardly away from oneanother (as to the broken line positions of Fig. 5) increasing thedistance between the side arms. Thus, by the turning movement described,the side arms may be sprung apart or toward one another to adjust thebail for the proper reception of a ski boot heel of a particular size.Springing 0f the bail as described is facilitated by the relieving ofthe stock of the bail at the points I5, I6 and I1.

It will be understood that adjustments are made to have the bail M ofthe desired size and then the clamp 35 is mounted on the base 3l bythreading the clamp over one end of the base to locate the latterbetween the lugs 33 and 39 and [Sii and 4I. When the clamp 35 is at thedesired position longitudinally of the base, a set screw til passingthrough the plate 31 is tightened down to clamp or bite against theupper surface of the base 3l whereby to-secure the clamp 35 in thedesired position longitudinally of the base.

The toe clamp 33 above referred to comprises a toe plate 5i from theunderside of which projects forward and rearward pairs of lugs 52 andand 5ft and 55, respectively, which lugs denne a way at the underside ofthe toe plate and together with the latter cooperate with thetransaeifasss versely dove-tail base 3| inthe manner described whendescribing the mounting of the heel plate 3.1 on such base. Extendingupwardly from the forward end of the toe plate 5| is a, member orwallflike portion 5.6 for engagement with the'toe of a ski boot andshown as slightly curved in top` plan (Fig. 5) and having a slightlyrearwardly projecting oroverhanging lip 51.

Extending forwardly from the wall 56 is an attaching means comprising apair of ears 58 through which pass a pivot pin 5,9 also passing througha head-like portion 6B located between said ears. This head-like portion6,0 is integrally orotherwise rigidly secured to a stem 6| whichadjacent the head-like portion includes an enlarged diameter shoulderportion 6,2 externally threaded.` With the described construction, itwill be clear that the pin 6|` is pivoted tothe ears 58 which areintegral with or otherwise rigid with the wall 5,6 ofthe toe plate 5|Located on the base 3| forwardly of the toe plate 5|. is an anchoringmeansV or block 53, having a way through its under portion whereby theblock straddles and is slidable` longitudinally along the base. A setscrew 64 is provided for securing said block in the desired positionlongitudinally of the base. Block 6.3 is provided with a pair ofupstanding ears 6.5 through which pass a pivot 6.6, serving to pivotallymount on the block the inner end portion of a handle or lever 61,

Access tothe screw 6,4 is had by inserting a screw driver or other toolthrough an opening or hole 64a in the handle or lever 6l.l Lever 61comprises a. manually operable means reacting against the, anchoring;means 63 and Operable t0 shift the member or Wall 56 toward andfrom saidanchoring means.`

Such handle or lever 61, intermediate its ends, is substantiallyLio-shaped in transverse section and comprises a pair of side portions68. between which arelocated one end portion of aometal tube 69;. Thisend portion `of the tube is pivoted to the described portion of thehandle .61, as ona pivot 1B. A coil spring 'Il has one end portionthreaded onto the enlarged diameter shoulder portion 62 of the pin 6|and such coil spring then extends forwardly and` has its other end 12hooked onto the pivot pin 10,. In this connection it will be clear thatthe spring extends into the tube 63. As will later clearly appear,A thistube functions somewhat in the nature of a guide for the spring.

It will be understood that the toe plate 5| and the anchoring block 6 3are permanently, although flexibly, conneeted. This connection isgenerally through the pin 6| and the coil spring 1| since the former ispivoted to the toe plate by the pin 5 3 and the latter is secured to thelever 61 on the anchoring block 63 by having one of its ends hooked overor turned about the pivot pin and the pin and spring are secured together since the latter is threaded onto the shoulder 62 ofthe former. i i

Therefore, when assembling or completing the binding il), the toe plateand the anchoring block 63 are slipped onto the base or bar 3| over oneendy of the latter and then the` heel clamp and the toe clamp 36 arepositionedA as. desired along the base or bar 3| and then securedoranchored tothe latter by the. screws 5.0 and 54, respectively. Whenthe toe clamp is` open, as in Fig. 8, the toe plate 5| has been drawnfor--` wardl-yV on the bar or base 3| (and along the ski when thebinding is on the ski) whereby the wall 56 of the toe plate is spaced anadditional distance from the` bail 44v of the heel clamp.

. spring; .7. l.-

is on the toe plate 5| and the extreme forward end of the ski boot orthe extreme toe portion of the ski boot is facing the upstanding wall56, movable with the toe plate 5|. 'I'hen the operator takesthe lever orhand piece 61 from the position of Fig. 8 and Swings such lever or handpiece on the pivot 66 through to the position of Figs. 5. and `o. Thismovement of the lever carries the pivot 10 about the pivot 66 from aposi.- tion4 above and forwardly of such pivot 66. to a position belowand rearwardly of such pivot. This action results in a rearward thruston the toe plate 5|, `such thrust being transmitted through andresulting in compression of the coil spring 1|, it being assumed thatthe wall 56 of the toe plate has engaged the toe of a ski boot, the heelof which is in the bail 44.

1i too great compression is required to shift the lever as described,then either the heel clamp 35 willbe adjusted slightly rearwardly onloosening of the screw 58 or the toe clamp 36 will be adjusted slightlyforwardly on loosening of the screw 64 or adjustment of both clamps maybe made. In any event, with the clamps located in the proper relativepositions on the base 3|, when a person puts his boot. into the bindingwith the toe clamp as in Fig. 8 and thereafter the lever 6T is swung tothe position of Fig. 6, the boot should be properly clamped withconsiderable pressure being exerted through the Thus, all that isrequired to mount the. boo-t in the binding is manipulation of the handpiece or lever- 61.

`The described manipulation of said hand piece or lever carries itthrough a dead center so that in the position of Fig. 6 the thrustthrough the spring ll has a tendency to further rock the hand` piece 61about the pivot 66 to keep the toeclarnp in its clamping position. Ofcourse, any` such movement is prevented since the arm portions 68 of thelever at that time are engaging the upper surface of the mountingmemberor bar 3|.. However, there is no danger of the clamp accidentallyopening. To open it to release the slfriI boot, the lever must beshifted about the pivot 66 from the position of Fig.` 6 back, towardthat of'Fig. 8.

It, is here noted` that the toe plate 5| .is Operatedin a positivemanner on swinging of the lever; 6l'. rlhus, when the lever is swungrearwardly or to clamping or clamp closing position, the toe clamp ispositively shifted. Conversely, when the lever `is swung to the positionof Fig. 8,` the toe plate is` moved forwardly or to released o-r openposition. Therefore, when the present clamp is manipulated to opent orreleased position, there is; a positive motion to release the boot ofthe skier. With a simple manipulationA ot lever G'l, `the boot ispositively re,- leased and there is no question of any wires or the likebieding in guides` or the like and preventing release of the boot.Swinging movement ci the lever 61 one direction; shifts or slides `the`toe clamp into1 clamping or closed relation with the heelclarnp andswinging Inovernent oi'lever 6T in the reverse direction shiftsorslieles the toe clamp into released or open relation with theheelclamp. Movement of the toe clamp is positive in either direction.

. When a Ski boot is beine held bv the present hindsait Will bearrreciated.` that the boot is,

being resiliently held by the thrust of the spring 'H acting through thetoe plate on the forward end of the boot and the consequent rearwardthrust of the boot heel into the bail @ff-L1. This thrust is yielding orresilient so that in the event of any undue strain, especially in theform of a twist, the leg of the skier will not be injured since the toeplate wall e@ will yield and the binding twist laterally oir the toe ofthe skiers boot or the toe of the boot will twist laterally away fromsaid wall and out over a lateral edge of the plate 5l freeing the boo-tfrom the ski.

The ski binding Il! is mounted on the ski Il by aligning the slots 32,33 and 34 of the base 3| With the openings 2li, 25 and 26 of the ski.Then, similar bolts 'i3 are passed through the slots 33 and Sil of thebase 3| and threaded into the nuts 39 aligned with the openings 25 and26. These screws may be oi a construction best shown in Fig. 4. They areeach provided with a shoulder lll whereby when such shoulder engages thetop surface of the portion i9 of the ski, the screws may not be furthertightened and the base or bar 3l beneath the heads of said screws issusceptible of slight movement with respect to the ski in directionsalong the longitudinal center line of the latter and the base.

However, a third screw l5 is threaded through the slot 32 and the hole213 into the nut 23. This screw is of somewhat diierent construction andpreferably has a head in the form of a wing nut, as shown, although itmay have an enlarged and knurled head. The head on bolt or screw E5provides for manual manipulation of such screw or bolt and such screw orbolt is adapted to be tightened down to secure the rear end portion oithe bar or base 3| tight against and rigid with the ski. The purpose ofthis immediately preceding described arrangement will be set forth.

With the ski binding secured to the ski as described, the entire bindingmay be adjusted in the direction of the length of the ski within thelimits dened by the slots 32, 33 and 34. For racing, or depending onsnow conditions as compared with normal skiing, a slightly differentposition I" the binding with respect to the transverse center of the skiis desirable. Heretofore, no provision has been made for convenientlyshifting the location of the binding with respect to the transversecenter line or" the ski. However, with my construction, on loosening ofthe screw 'l5 the base or mounting 3i and thus the entire binding may beshifted either forwardly or rearwardly longitudinally of the ski withinthe limits dened by the slots 32, 33 and 34. This adjustment need beonly slight and as suggested above, the slots are approximately 2 inlength.

When an adjustment is made, the screw 'l5 is again tightened and the skiis ready for use. The purpose of using screws 'F3 different from thescrew l is to provide for slight ilexing of the ski under the base 3|.II" this base were absolutely rigid with the ski, the entire centerportion of the ski would be rigid and the ski could only flex at theends of the base, which is some what in the nature of the usual footblock of a ski. However, since the screws 'E3 cannot be tightened todraw the base down against the top surface of the ski, it will be seenthat a slight longitudinal movement of the ski with respect to the base,or vice versa, throughout the longitudinal center of the ski ispossible.

This will permit of uniform bowing of the ski as suggested by the dottedlines 'it in Fig. 2. The base 3l which is in the nature of a foot blockis rigid with the ski only at the point where the screw 'i5 is tighteneddown or for a very short distance measured along the length of the ski,and thus these parts may move relatively to the end that substantiallyuniform bowing of the ski may be experienced.

Another feature of the present ski binding to which particular attentionis invited is the rigid bail fill. This heel clamp part is of a singlepiece of relatively large diameter stock and is rigid against anylateral movement relative to the plate 31 or base 3l and hence relativeto any ski to which the binding may be applied. Therefore, the heel ofthe skier may not shift laterally oil the ski as can happen withyielding heel encircling members. With the present structure, the skikis always directly under and in alignment with the boot and the user issafer and may have confidence in the position of his ski relative to hisboot and thus to his foot and his entire body.

`Having thus set forth the nature oi my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a ski binding, an elongated base, a heel clamp :dxed on said base,a toe clamp, means mounting said toe clamp on said base for slidingmovementtoward and from said heel clamp,rneans 'for sliding said toeclamp toward said heel clamp to secure a ski boot to said binding andfor sliding said toe clamp in the opposite direction to release a skiboot from said binding, said means comprising a pivoted lever and meanswhereby said lever is moved through a deadcenter to each of saidclamping and released positions, and spring means between said lever andsaid toe clamp whereby the latter is only yieldingly secured in saidclamping position.

2. In a ski binding, a unit adapted to be mounted on a ski, said unitcomprising an elongated base, a heel clamp on said base and slidablyadjustable therealong, means to rigidly secure said heel clamp inadjusted position on said base, a toe clamp on and slidably adjustablealong said base toward and from said heel clamp, an anchoring block onsaid base and slidably adjustable therealong, means to rigidly securesaid anchoring block in adjusted position on said base, and meansincluding a lever pivoted to said anchoring block and said toe clamp andmanually manipulable to slide said toe clamp along said base to and fromski boot clamping relation with said heel clamp.

3. In a ski binding, a heel clamp comprising a heel plate adapted whenin use to have the heel of a ski boot disposed thereon, said platehaving oppositely threaded sockets opening through its opposite lateraledges adjacent one of its ends, a bail including side arms and a bightportion, said side arms having their free end portions bent intoopposing relation and threaded into said sockets, and said plate andbail of such relative size as to permit of turning of the plate on saidstuds and through said bail to spread and draw toward one another theside arms of said bail.

4. In a ski binding, a toe clamp including an anchoring means to berigidly attached to a ski, a ski boot toe engaging member, meansconnecting said member to said anchoring means for movement relativethereto in the direction of the length of a ski to which said anchoringmay be attached, and said connecting means 9 including a lever pivotedto said anchoring means, a spring connecting said lever and saidengaging member, said lever operable about its pivot to act through saidspring an'd'shift said member from and toward said anchoring means, andsaid spring permitting of limited mbve'm'ent of said engaging membertoward said anchoring means independent of movement ci said `lever onundue strain being placed on said member.

`5. In a ski binding, a toe clamp comprising an anchoring means to berigidly attached to a ski,` a ski boot toe engaging member including avertical wall portion to engage the toe of a ski boot', a lever pivotedat one end to said anchoring means, a pin pivoted at one end to saidvertical wall portion and having an externally threaded portion adjacentsaid wall portion, a compressible coil spring having one end portionthreaded onto the threaded portion of said pin and having its other endanchored to said lever in spaced relation to the pivoted end of thelatter whereby on movement of said lever about its pivot said ski boottoe engaging member is moved from and toward said anchoring meansdepending on the' direction of movement of said lever, and the pivotsfor said pin and leve: and the connection of said spring with said lever`being in such relation that on movement of the lever in one directionsaid connection is carried across and to a' point below the lever pivotto have the force of the spring secure the` lever in such position withsaid member projected and as the lever isv moved in the oppositedirection said connection is carried upwardly and across the `leverpivot t'o the opposite side thereof whereby the force of the springsecures the lever in such new position with the member retracted.

6. The device as in claim wherein said ski boot toe engaging member hasa way therein for coope'rationwith a guide rail to guide movement ofsaid member whenmoved by shifting of said lever. C

7.V In a ski binding, a rail-like bar, a heel clamp including a heel`plate having in its underside `a way receiving said bar for guidingmovement of the plate along the bar, means for iixing said plate in thedesired position along said bar, a bail pivoted to said plate andadapted to receive the heel of a ski boot disposed on said plate, a toeclamp on said bar and including a toe plate having in itsunderside a wayreceiving said bar for guiding movements of the toe plate longitudinallyalong said bar, n an anchoring means having a way in its undersidereceiving saidbar for guiding adjustment movenients of the anchoringmeansalong the bar, means' for Securing said anchoring means in thedesired position of adjustment along said bar, a connection between saidtoe plate and said anchoring means, and said connection includingmanually manipulable means reacting against said anchoring means andoperable for shifting said toe plate along said bar` toward said heelclamp `for securing relation with a ski boot the neel of which is insaid bail and from said heel clamp to a released relation with a skiboot the heel of which is in said bail.

8. In a ski binding, a base, a heel clamp on said p necting said leverand toe clamp for sliding said toe clamp to said closed and op'enrelations With said heel clamp assaid leveris swung on, its pivot inone` and then in the opposite directiong. said lever movable through adead-center position as it is shifted to lslide said toe clamp to eachof said closed and open positions, and a spring acting on said lever andbiasing the same to each side of said dead center position as the leveris manually shifted to said side .thereof and providing` means wherebysaid toe clamp is only yieldingly held in .said closed position. l

9. In aski binding, a unit comprising an' elongated rigid base, a heelclamp on said base and movable as a unit therewith, a toe clamp on saidbase and movable as a unit therewith and also movable relative theretoand 'on such latter movement adapted for cooperation with said heelclamp for the securing of said base to a ski bjoot, andsaid base havingspaced elongated openings therethrough and extending longitudinallythereof for the `passage of means for the securing of said unit `to theupper side oi a ski.

10. In a ski binding, a rail-like bar; a heel clamp including a' heelplate having inits underside `a way receiving said barfor guidingmovement of the plate' along the bar, means for iixing said plate inthedesiredA position along said bar; a toe clamp on said bar and includinga `toe plate having in its underside a way receiving said bar forguiding movements ofthe toe plate longitudinally along said bar,` ananchoring means having away in `its underside receiving said barforguiding adjustment4-`move ments of the anchoring nieansalongvthe bar,means for securing said anchoring n ieans in' `the desired position ofadjustment along said bar, a connection between said toe plate andnsaid`anchoring means, ,and said connection including manually manipulablemeans reacting against said anchoring means and operable for.Shiftingsaid toeplate along said bartowardsaidheel clamp for securing relationwith ay ski bootthe heel of which is in Asaid heel clamp `and from saidheel ,clamp position `to a released relation witha ski boot. p

l1. In a ski binding, a rail-like bar, a heel clamp' including a heelplate having `in itsI underside a way receiving said bar for guidingmovement of the plate along the bar; means for fixing said plate in thedesired position `along said bar, a toe clamp on' said bar and includinga toe plate having in its underside a way receiving said b'arfor guidingmovements of the toe plate longitudinally along n said bar, an anchoringmeans having `a way in its underside recreiving said bar for guidingadjustmentinveinents of the anohdring Ineans along the bar, inea'ns' forsecuring said anchoring means in the desired position oi adjustmentalong said bar, a con-- neotionbetween said toe plate and saidanchoringI means, Ysaid connection including manually manipulable nieansreacting against saifdanchoring` mean-s and operable for shifting saidtle plate along said bar toward said heel clamp for securing relationwith a ski boot the heel of` which is in said heel clamp and from saidheel clamp position to a released relation with a ski boot, and springmeans between said lever and said toe clamp whereby the latter is onlyyieldingly held in securing relation with a ski boot.

12. In a ski binding, a rail-like bar, a heel clamp including a heelplate having in its underi l 'side a way receiving said bar for guidingmovement of the plate along the bar, means for Xing said plate in thedesired position along said bar, a toe clamp on said bar and including atoe plate having in its underside a way receiving said bar for guidingmovements of the toe plate longitudinally along said bar, an anchoringmeans having a way in its underside receiving said bar for guidingadjusting movements of the anchoring means along the bar, means forsecuring said anchoring means in the desired position of adjustmentalong said bar, a connection between said toe plate and said anchoringmeans, said connection including manually manipulable means reactingagainst said anchoring means and operable for shifting said toe platealong said bar toward said heel camp for securing relation with a skiboot the heel of which is in said heel clamp and from said heel clampposition to a released relation with a ski boot, and said raillike barhaving spaced elongated openings therethrough and extendinglongitudinally thereof for the passage of means for securing said barand thus said heel clamp, toe clamp and anchoring means to the upperside of a ski.

13. In a ski binding, a toe clamp including an anchoring means to berigidly attached to a ski, a ski boot toe engaging member having avertical wall portion to engage the toe of a ski boot, a lever pivotedat one end to said anchoring means, a compressible coil spring havingone end attached to said member and having its other end connected tosaid lever in spaced relation to the pivoted end of the latter wherebyon movement of said lever about its pivot said ski boot toe engagingmember is moved from and toward said anchoring means depending on thedirection of movement of said lever, and the pivot for said lever andthe connection of said spring with said lever being in such relationthat on movel ment of the lever in one direction said connection iscarried across and to a point below the lever pivot to have the force ofthe spring secure the lever in such position with said member projectedand as the lever is moved in the opposite direction said connection iscarried upwardly and across the lever pivot to the opposite side thereofwhereby the force of the spring secures the lever in such new positionwith the member retracted.

14. In a ski binding, an elongated base, a heel clamp iXed on said base,said heel clamp comprising a bail including a closed rear portion andforwardly extending side arms adapted to receive the heel of a ski bootbetween them, said arms pivotally mounted at their forward ends forswinging movement of said bail upwardly from and downwardly toward a skiwhile engaged with the heel of a ski boot, a toe clamp, means mountingsaid toe clamp on said base for sliding movement rearwardly toward andforwardly from said heel clamp, means for sliding said toe clamprearwardly toward said heel clamp to secure a ski boot in said heelclamp and for sliding said toe clamp inthe opposite direction to releasea ski boot from said heel clamp, and said means for sliding said toeclamp to clamping position comprising spring means whereby said toeclamp is only yieldingly secured in clamping position.`

15. In a ski binding, a heell clamp comprising a bail including a closedrear portion and forwardly extending side arms adapted to receive theheel of a ski boot between them,` said arms pivotally mounted at theirforward ends for swinging movement of said bail upwardly from anddownwardly toward a ski while engaged with the heel of a ski boot, a toeclamp movable rearwardly toward said heel clamp to engage the toe of aski boot and force the latter rearwardly into said bail toward theclosed rear portion thereof and then movable forwardly to release theski boot for removal from the heel clamp, manually operable means formoving said toe clamp to the iirst named position and securing ittherein, and a yielding connection between said manually operable meansand the toe clamp whereby said toe clamp may be forced slightly out ofits first named position to release a ski boot from said heel clamp onundue strain.

18. In a ski binding, aunit comprising an elongated rigid base adaptedto be mounted on the upper side of a ski, a heel clamp on said base andmovable as a unit therewith, said heel clamp including a heel engagingmemberv pivoted for limited swinging movement upwardly and downwardlyrelative to said base while engaging the heel or" a ski boot, a toeengaging means, means mounting said toe engaging means, said mountingmeans adjustable longitudinally of said base whereby to position saidtoe engaging means in the desired spaced relation to said heel engagingmember, and manually operable means forwardly of said heel engagingmember and operable to shift said toe engaging means independent of itsmounting means to thrust against the toe of a boot and thereby thrustthe heel of the boot against said heel engaging member and to shift saidtoe engaging means from such a position.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle ofthis patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,802,116 Kinsley Apr. 21, 19312,072,477 Dodd Mar. 2, 1937 2,364,620 Crocker et al Dec. 12, 19442,451,601 Woolley Oct. 19,1948

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 36,085 Sweden Dec. 22, 1910 49,987Sweden Jan. 12, 1920 177,960 Switzerland Sept. 2, 1935 192,869Switzerland Jan. 17, 1938 327,523 y Italy July 13, 1935

